Former Kyle Mayor Establishes A TXST Endowment For Hays County Residents

SAN MARCOS, Texas — Lucy C. Johnson, former mayor of Kyle, has established a permanent endowment at Texas State University that will provide an annual scholarship to Hays County residents who enroll as freshmen in the University’s College of Fine Arts and Communication.

A firm believer in youth and community involvement, she became the youngest mayor in Kyle’s history from 2010-2014. Johnson worked to secure better access to education for Kyle’s residents by building a new city library and campaigning successfully for a community college campus.

After serving as Kyle’s mayor, Johnson was appointed by President Barack Obama as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Rural Outreach at the U.S. Department of Education.

Ms. Johnson grew up on her family’s 3,500-acre cattle ranch along the Blanco River. She graduated from Jack C. Hays High School in 2002 and earned a bachelor’s degree from the Parsons New School for Design in New York.

“Graduating from Hays High School in 2002, I remember many classmates who felt forced to postpone or forgo college altogether because of the costs,” Ms. Johnson said. “I am blessed to be part of a family that has always supported our community through the Burdine Johnson Foundation, but I also believe that it is my personal responsibility to give back. I hope to make additional gifts in the future to enable more local students achieve the dream of a college education right here at Texas State University.”

Dr. John Fleming, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication, commended Ms. Johnson for her leadership and generosity. “Lucy’s endowment exemplifies her passion for the growth, development, and quality of life in Hays County. Scholarships from this fund will inspire freshmen to follow in her footsteps.”

Applicants will be evaluated on their academics and record of community service. They will submit an essay outlining what makes Hays County unique to them, and how obtaining an education from Texas State University will help them contribute to their community in the future.

For more information on how to apply, please visit https://www.finaid.txstate.edu/scholarships/freshman.html.